Heating and drying apparatus



Sept. 1, 1936.

W. L. LONG HEATING AND DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 20, 1953 dSheets-Sheet 1 .ll .1 l

iNVENTOR WZberL.L0n

I BY ATTORNEY Sept. 1, 1936. w LQNG 2,052,983

HEATING AND DRYING APPARATUS Original Fi led Feb. 20, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 dIIIII -IIIIv/IIIIA If!!! INVENTQR Wi/fier L.L0/2

A ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1936 HEATING AND DRYING APPARATUS Wilber L.Long, Kirksville, Mo.

Application February 20, 1933, Serial No. 657,637 Renewed December 4,1935 20 Claims.

This invention relates to heating and drying apparatus and moreparticularly to the continuous improvements made in the device coveredby Patent No. 1,694,351 which has been further perfected since its issueon December 4th, 1928.

The object of these improvements has been to facilitate and increase theflow of the circulated medium through the apparatus with less motorpower required to operate the fan and less friction in the wall channelsemployed to preheat the medium in the manner that exhaust steam isutilized. This object has been accomplished by reducing the number ofchannels and by diverting only a portion of the medium through thechannels while the remainder feeds direct to the inlet side of the blastfan.

Another objective which has been attained by this invention is thatgreater heating emciency is accomplished by spreading or extending theheating unit across and around the blast chamber so that the fan forcesthe medium between the individual element wires instead of passing onlyalong the side of the heat radiating unit. This extension of the heatingunit over a larger area has been obtained by crisscrossing the elementwire in different planes and by a spiral winding of the wire on spacedinsulator bars as indicated. In fact the positioning of the heatingwires in the direct path of the blast fan and concentric therewith warmsthe medium so effectively that the preheating channels may be reduced toa. minimum and for some uses be entirely eliminated without the tubularwall of the blast chamber becoming overheated. This condition applieswhere the fan moves sufficient medium through the webbed or spiralmatted heating area to carry away the heat units fast enough to preventsuperheating of the element wires.

A further object of the invention has been to provide an apparatus whichwill operate effectively either in a horizontal or vertical position andof such size and shape that it may be hung from a wall or set on eitherits side or end and still function properly.

'Other essential features and advantages of my invention will beapparent from the following detailed description in which reference ismade to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of theinvention is fully shown.

In the drawings;

.Fig. 1 is a half side view and a half section of the apparatus taken onsection line BB of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a half end view and half section taken on line AA of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the yoke construction taken on line CC of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a view from line DD of Fig. 3. 5

Fig. 5 is a view from line EE of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an alternate yoke construction taken on line CCof Fig. 1.

7 is a view from line FF of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a View from line GG of Fig. 6. 9

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the yoke construction employed in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings; it designates a base or end closure member towhich is attached adjustable legs or strap supports ii that sustain indesired relation to the base a tubular wall member l2 which is shownoctagonal in plan. An inlet space i3 is indicated between the closure 16and wall member I2. An inner tubular wall of similar contour to member[2 20 and of less diameter is indicated by M. Between the members i2 andM is shown an intermediate fluted or corrugated member i5 that acts as aseparator to maintain the wall members [2 and M concentric and alsodivides the space into distinct channels l6 which are thirty-two innumber in this particular illustration. A closure member ll fits one endof the channels I6 and has a central opening 58 that is approximatelythe same size as the area confined by the inner tubular wall M. A wireguard or perforated grill member l9 over the opening I8 is shown insemi-spherical form to provide space for a pilot light 26, though it isoptional whether the opening !8 has a raised or flat protecting member.A wire screen 21 may be employed as an additional protection for theinterior mechanism when the apparatus is placed to operate vertically.22 indicates a hinged link or ring by which the device is shown hunghorizontally from a wall hook 23, while 22a is wire handle.

The blast fan 26 which circulates the medium through the apparatus ispropelled by a motor 25 shown attached to the end member l6 concentricwith the tubular wall M. A spring wire or strap yoke member 25 islocated above or in front of the fan 24 and may be secured to wall it byclips 27. One form of this yoke memher which supports the heating unit28 is shown isometrically in Fig. 9. The pilot light may be supported byan insulated strap 29 carried by the yoke 26. Hollow porcelain insulatorbars 30 are shown sprung between pivots 3| on the yoke 26 or asbestosstraps 32 may be employed diagonally and clevised to the legs 33 of theElectric power is supplied to the apparatus thru wires 38 and 39 whichconnect with the motor 25, the heating unit 28 and the pilot light 29within the elongated blast chamber All confined by the tubular wall I l.

In the operation of the device the following sequence of action occursas each novel feature performs its separate function and. all combine toaccomplish the purpose of the invention.

When current is supplied to the motor 25, heating unit 28 and pilotlight 20, the blast fan 24 is set in motion and the resistance topassage of the current heats the element wires 28. A partial vacuum iscreated on the inlet side of the fan which causes a draft thru the spaceE3 provided between the end member is and wall member it. The area ofthis space has a definite relation to the velocity and pitch of the'fanwhich may be calculated and tested to draw a proper percentage of thecirculated medium thru the channels I? by means of the openings 35, 35and 31. The back and forth movement of a portion of the circulatedmedium preheats the same thru contact with the channels adjacent to thewall member M which is heated thru radiation from the wires 28.

The mixing of the preheated medium with that which is drawn direct tothe fan raises the aver age temperature of the circulated medium beforethe same passes between the element wires. This method insures that thewall member l2 will remain cool. 7 It is evident that for some purposessufficient medium may be drawn thru an enlargement of the inlet space 53to provide the exact amount of draft past the hot area surrounding thewires 28 to absorb the total heat units generated without loss byradiation thru the tubular wall it or injury to the element fromoverheating, and under these conditions the insulating members I2 and 55may be eliminated without diminishing the efficiency of the device.

The circulated medium is forced by the fan thru the blast chamber 46confined by the tubular wall M where it comes into direct contact withthe elemen'twires 28 which are suspended concentric therein and at theopposite end of the chamber from the blast fan. It will be evi dent thatgreater heating efficiency is obtained by circulating the medium betweenand around the separate wires, which are suspended in either a spiralmat or cross webbed formation, than is attained by the former method ofpassing the medium along the sides of an element wound on a singlecentral insulator support.

The warmed medium after passing thru the area surrounding the elementwires of the heating unit is expelled thru the wire or perforated grillguard surmounting the opening 8 at the outlet'end of chamber ii) and isagain drawn in thru the draft inletspace 53 after its heat has beendiflused. This cyclic expansion and contraction of the circulated mediumby temperature change thru either a closed or an open circuit iscontinuous and tends to approach a smaller change in volume as the inletand outlet temperatures become more equalized.

By virtue of the novel construction devised to support in a widelyextended manner the element wires comprising the heating unit over thecross area of the blast chamber, it will be apparent that the circulatedmedium will be forced to pass directlyinto contact with all sides of theseparated heating 'wires which are hot enough to destroy any germscarried by the medium. This construction comprises a fourway extendedspring wire or metal strap yoke member into which may be sprung theinsulating bars on which the separate series of element Wiring circuitshave been wound before insertion into the yoke. This method is adaptableto either round or flat insulators which may be crossed diagonally withend clevises sprung between opposite legs of the yoke. A spiral windingof the element wires is preferred for the wire can be brought closer tothe walls of the blast chamber and so provide greater heating area thruwhich the circulated medium must pass in its circuit.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes thepreferred construction of this invention, it is understood that variouschanges and revisions may be made in the size, shape, capacity,proportion and arrangement of parts and elements without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A heating and drying apparatus utilizing cyclic expansion andcontraction of a medium, including a tubular chamber, a blastcirculation mechanism and a yoked multiple-plane heat providing unitlocated within the chamber so that the circulated medium dischargesdirectly from the chamber, immediately following its passage thru theheating unit, the yoking means including a wire frame. a a

. 2. A heating and drying apparatus employing cyclic expansion andcontraction of a circulated medium, comprisingan elongated blastchamber, means for providing forced circulation at one end of thechamber and a series of yoked heating units in the opposite end; closuremembers providing inlet and outlet openings to the chamber, located insuch manner that the circulated medium is forced directly from thechamber, immediately following its passage thru the heated area, theyoking means including a wire frame.

3. A heating and drying apparatus providing blast circulation of aheated medium, including a fan mechanism, a yoke and an expanded heatingunit yoked in opposite ends of a tubular chamber and concentrictherewith; closure members providing inlet and outlet openings inrespective ends of the chamber; said openings being arranged to compelthe circulated medium to discharge directly from the chamber, subsequentto its passage thru the heated area, the yoking means including a wireframe.

4. A heating and drying apparatus, including blast circulation of acontractable and expansible medium, comprising a circulating meanslocated in one end of an elongated chamber and a yoked heating means inthe opposite end, each being concentric with the chamber and sopositioned that the circulated medium is forced directly from theapparatus immediately after its passage thru the heating means, theyoking means including a wire frame. V

5. A heating and drying apparatus, comprising an elongated chamber; amotor propelled blast fan centrally positioned in the suction end ofsaid chamber and a multiple heating unit supported by a yoke member inthe opposite discharge end concentric with the fan; a closure memberproviding limited inlet to the chamber near the fan and a perforatedgrill member protecting the heated outlet 'end of said chamher.

6. A heating and drying apparatus comprising a tubular chamber includinga laterally supported multiple-plane yoke member in one end and acentrally located blast fan in the opposite end concentric with theyoke; a heating unit comprising elements wired in parallel suspendedcrosswise from said yoke; a closure member providing restricted inlet tothe chamber near the fan and a wire grill member secured over the outletopening from said chamber.

7. A heating and drying apparatus comprising, a tubular wall inclosing ablast chamber; an offset closure member adjustably secured to said wallproviding a limitable intake to the chamber; a centrally positioned yokesupporting a plurality of spaced elements of a heating unit Within theoutlet end of said chamber and a motor propelled fan located at theclosure end concentric with the chamber to provide forced discharge ofthe medium from the apparatus, immediately after its circulation thruthe heating unit.

8. A heating and drying apparatus comprising, an elongated Wall memberincasing a circulation chamber; a closure member adjustably secured tosaid wall member providing a limitable intake to the chamber; amultiple-plane yoke member supporting a plurality of spaced elements ofa heating unit centrally positioned directly within the outlet end ofsaid chamber and a blast fan located near the closure member andconcentric with the chamber to provide forced discharge of thecirculated medium from the chamher.

9. A heating and drying apparatus comprising, a circulation chamberincluding an adjustable end closure member for restricting the inlet tosaid chamber; a motor driven fan centrally secured to said closuremember and a spring yoke member suspended in said chamber opposite ofthe fan and concentric therewith; a plurality of insulator barsdemountably secured to the yoke, providing spaced support for the spiralwinding of a heating unit, inside a perforated outlet end to saidchamber.

10. A heating and drying apparatus comprising an elongated blastchamber, including inlet and outlet closure members; means forcirculating a medium located in the inlet portion of the chamber and aheating means in the opposite outlet end, positioned transversely of thechamber axis and concentric therewith; said heating means including anextended arrangement of element wires supported in multiple planes andopposite directions by a plurality of insulator bars detachably securedto a yoke member extending crosswise of the chamber.

11. In a heating and drying apparatus; an elongated chamber inclosed bya tubular member; end closures providing inlet and outlet means forcirculation of a medium thru said chamber; a motor driven fan centrallypositioned at the inlet end of the chamber and a multiple-plane yokemember positioned in the outlet end at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the chamber and concentric therewith.

12. In a heating and drying apparatus; a tubular member inclosing ablast chamber; end closures providing inlet and outlet openings forcirculation of a medium thru the chamber; a blast fan centrallypositioned at the inlet end of the chamber and means for propelling thesame; a multiple plane yoke member secured in the outlet end oppositethe fan, at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the chamber andconcentric therewith; said yoke furnishing directional support for pairsof insulator bars providing a spacing means for a crosswise winding ofthe heating element.

13. In a heating and drying apparatus; an elongated chamber housing acirculating mechanism in the inlet end and a heating unit in theopposite outlet end of said chamber; closure members providingrespectively inlet and outlet openings for circulation thru theapparatus; said blast mechanism and heating unit being locatedconcentric with and at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of thechamber and the plane of the heating unit at right angles to said axis.

14. In a heating and drying apparatus; a tubular chamber housing a motordriven fan at the inlet end and a heating means in the opposite outletend of the chamber; closure members providing inlet and outlet means forblast circulation thru the apparatus; said heating means comprising ayoke member consisting of two parallel U shaped sections forming a cubeframe and held in such position by two straight parallel sectionsconnecting the corresponding lateral legs of the U sections; and pairsof insulator bars clevised or dowelled to the yoke in different planesand directions to provide spaced winding support for a series of heatingunits.

15. In a heating and drying apparatus; a closure member providingadjustable inlet means to an elongated circulation chamber; a perforatedclosure means at the opposite end providing outlet openings from saidchamber; a yoke member situated near the outlet openings and at rightangles to the chamber axis, comprising supporting means for a multipleseries of element wires suspended in separate planes from said yoke andarranged to form a crossed web or spiral mat heating unit in the directpath of a medium circulated by a motor driven fan positioned within theinlet portion of said chamber.

16. In a heating and drying apparatus; a closure member providingadjustable inlet means to a tubular chamber; a perforated outlet meansenclosing the opposite end of said chamber, providing protection for apilot light operatable with the motor and heating unit; a yoke memberpositioned near the outlet and within the chamber at right angles to itsaxis, comprising a supporting arrangement for a multiple series ofelement wires suspended in multiple planes on said yoke to form anexpanded web or mat heating surface transverse of the chamber and in thedirect circuit of the medium circulated by a blast fan located near theinlet end of said chamber; a ring member secured to the exterior of thechamber providing means for horizontal suspension of the apparatus froma vertical surface and a handle providing vertical suspension means.

17. In a heating and drying apparatus; two concentric tubular members ofdifferent diameters providing. an elongated inner circulation chamber; aseries of equally spaced channels surrounding said chamber between thetubular members and parallel with their axis; an end closure memberpositioned to provide inlet means to the chamber and to the saidchannels; the opposite end of the channels having a closure member andthe circulation chamber a perforated outlet means; a blast fan locatedwithin said chamberrat the inlet endlthereof and means for driving saidfan; a seriesio-f staggered openings in the tubular members at the inletside of the fan providing an inlet and an outlet to alternate channels;openings connecting the channels at the opposite end of the chamber anda heating unit arranged transversely within the outlet portion of the:chamber at a point substantially axial of the nested parallel channels.

- 18. Ina heating and drying apparatus; a tubular member positionedconcentrically within a larger member of similar-contour, providing ablast chamber; nested channels located between the tubular memberssurrounding the chamber and parallel with its axis; a closure memberrestricting the intake to said chamber; openings into the channels atopposite, ends thereof providing circulation thru.v the same into theblast chamber; a power, propelled fan'situated in the chamber near theopenings to said channels and a transversely positionedvheating. unit inthe other end of the chamber substantially axial of the nestedchannels.-

19. In a heating and drying apparatus; con- 7 centric tubular membersinclosing an elongated 30 7 axis; an'end closure spaced from the tubularmembers to provide inletcmeans to the chamber; means for closingtheopposite end of the channels surrounding the open outlet of saidchamber; a power propelled blast fan locatedwithin the inlet end of thechamber; staggered openings in the tubular members at the inlet end ofthe chamber providing openings intoalternate channels; openings betweenthe channels at the opposite end of the same and a heating unit ar- 10ranged within the outlet portion of the tubular chamber at a pointsubstantially axial of the nested channels. I

.20. In a heating and drying apparatus; concentric tubular membersproviding a blast chamber; an intermediate member forming nestedchannels surrounding the chamber parallel with its axis; closure means'for limiting the inlet opening at oneend of the chamber and means forclosing the end of each channel at the outlet end of said chamber;inletand outlet openings inv the inner and outer tubular membersrespectively at the inlet end of the chamber; said openings beingpositioned instaggered relation to provide one opening to each channelat one end and communicating openings between the channels inside thetubular members at their opposite ends; a blast. fan located in theinlet end of the chamber and a heating unit in the opposite endconcentric with the chamber axis. 7

WILBER L; LONG.

